Ganguly, Warne fined 10 per cent of match fee

New Delhi, May 2 (UNI) Former India captain Sourav Ganguly and leg-spinner Shane Warne were today fined 10 per cent of their match fee, while Pratap Kumar, the on-field umpire, has been banned for a game following controversy during the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

The IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi today said in a statement, ''Mr Sourav Ganguly was found guilty of Level 1 offence according to the ICC's code of conduct. He was charged of showing dissent to an umpire's decision. We have decided to deduct 10 per cent of his match fee.'' Ganguly, who did not seem convinced with a catch taken by Rajasthan Royals' Graeme Smith in yesterday's match, asked umpire Kumar to refer the decision to third umpire.

Asad Rauf, the third umpire, however, went with Ganguly and ruled him not out after watching the inconclusive replays several times.

Modi further added,''Similarly Mr Shane Warne in his press conference yesterday, breached the ICC rules under Level 1 offence and he, therefore, has been reprimanded.

''The objective of the IPL is play with the spirit of cricket and under the ICC's rules. Mr Shane Warne's was found to have breached level 1 clause 1.17 which is public criticism of any player or match official,'' he said.

The officiating umpire, Pratap Kumar was slapped a one-match ban after he was found to accede to the plea to refer the decision.

''He was not aware of the rules and decided to adhere to what Sourav Ganguly said to him. We have decided to ban him for one match,'' Modi said in reference to Pratap Kumar.

After Amiesh Sahiba, Kumar is the second umpire to be suspended in the IPL.